What: All Issues :
Family Planning :
Abortion :
H.R. 748. Abortion/Vote on Passage of a Bill to Prohibit Anyone From Transporting a Minor Across State Lines to Seek an Abortion for the Purpose of Avoiding State Parental Consent or Notification Laws. (2005 house Roll Call 144)

Who:
All Members

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H.R. 748. Abortion/Vote on Passage of a Bill to Prohibit Anyone From Transporting a Minor Across State Lines to Seek an Abortion for the Purpose of Avoiding State Parental Consent or Notification Laws.

In this vote, the House passed H.R. 748, a bill to prohibit anyone from transporting a minor across state lines for the purpose of avoiding parental consent or notification laws to seek an abortion. Progressives argued that the bill was an "extreme" measure designed to "prevent any young woman from being able to obtain an abortion, even if she is raped, or even if she is too afraid of her parents to confide in them." (John Conyers (D-MI).) They noted that especially in cases where abuse or incest has occurred, a pregnant girl might legitimately fear for her safety if she were to go to her parents. Progressives also called the bill "mean-spirited," noting that a broad range of adults in whom a girl ought to be able to turn to for help could be prosecuted, including grandparents and members of the clergy. (Conyers.) Republicans countered that the bill was "critical to both protecting our minors as well as preserving the opportunity for parents to be involved in their children's decisions." (Steve Chabot (R-OH).) They also insisted that the bill as drafted contained adequate exceptions and protections for a girl's life and physical well-being. Progressives suffered a defeat when the House passed the bill by a vote of 270 to 157, with 54 Democrats crossing party lines to vote with Republicans in favor of the bill. Thus, the House passed legislation that would criminalize the behavior of nearly anyone who helped a pregnant girl circumvent state parental consent or notification laws by transporting her across state lines to obtain an abortion.